Kosovo war crimes suspect arrested in Belgium News
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Kosovo war crimes suspect arrested in Belgium

Belgian authorities arrested a Kosovo war crimes suspect on Tuesday.

Pjetёr Shala was wanted “pursuant to an arrest warrant and confirmed indictment related to war crimes” according to a pre-trial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC). He is being held in Belgium until he can be moved to the KSC detention facilities in The Hague. The court did not release any additional information, but did say that the confirmed indictment would be available no later than Shala’s initial appearance before the court.

The Specialist Chambers were formed following a 2011 Council of Europe report about war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo. It has jurisdiction over such alleged crimes that occurred between 1998 and 2000. It has indicted several suspects, including former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci, who was indicted last year for his role as a commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). He is accused of crimes including murder, enforced disappearance, persecution, and torture.

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